Over 18,000 families in Walapane, Hanguranketha hit by floods, landslides

Mohammed NAALIR

COLOMBO: A total of 18,376 persons from 4,016 families in Walapane and Hanguranketha have been affected by the recent floods and landslides, Assistant Director of Emergency Operations of the Disaster Management Centre, A.D. Ramya Siriwansa said.

Sixteen deaths were reported in both areas while five persons were reported missing from Walapane and three sustained injuries in Hanguranketha.

Fifty one temporary camps have been set-up in Walapane while 1,125 families have been housed in 24 camps in Hanguranketha. A total of 103 houses were completely damaged while another 741 houses were partly damaged in both areas.

Large areas in Hambantota, Lunugamwehera, Ambalantota and Tissamaharama were affected by the floods with Tissamaharama recording the highest with 3,007 displaced families.

Thirty six Grama Niladari Divisions in the Tissamaharama Divisional Secretary's Division and 17 Grama Niladari Divisions in the Hambantota Divisional Secretary's Division were affected by floods in the Hambantota district.

Two hundred and eight houses in the Tissamaharama Divisional Secretary's Division were completely damaged.

Several families have also been displaced in other areas. They are Morahela (three), Walaskele (23), Pussalapitiya (15) and Rambukkena (20).

Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organisation has also identified Dhiyanilla, Hurulugama, Janapadhagama and Mulhalkele as landslide prone areas.